Before you decide to melt your silver coins down, for whatever purpose, there are a few important points that you should be aware of. The first, and most important, thing to understand is that in the United States it is illegal to destroy minted coins. If the coin itself is usable as legal tender in the United States, you can not by law destroy it.

Another point to be aware of is that not all coins that are silver colored are actually made of silver. It is far more common to find coins that are comprised of nickel, zinc, or other metals. If the purity of the metal is important for your eventual purposes, then you need to be very sure the coin is 99% or more pure silver.

The final point to consider applies only if you are intending to sell the product of your labors. If you intend to melt silver into bars or other shapes, you should be aware that many dealers will not buy these bars because they can not be sure of the inner composition. They have no way to tell if the center of the bar is silver, gold or lead. It is also a common occurrence that the silver coin itself is more valuable than the weight of the silver by itself.

Now, if you are still ready to melt down your silver coins, you will need three primary tools. First you will need a torch or kiln. An oxy-acetylene or butane torch will work best. For the oxy-acetylene, you will want to have a good flow of oxygen to create a short, blue flame. If you are using a kiln, the melting temperature for silver is 1763 degrees Fahrenheit, so be certain the kiln you are using is capable of reaching that temperature.

Second, you will need some type of vessel to hold the melted silver in. This is usually called a crucible. This vessel is most commonly made of graphite and will withstand the heat of the melted metal without breaking or melting itself.

Finally, you will want to have some type of mold or cast to pour the liquid silver into. You will have to find this for sale commercially since creating a mold for a high temperate metals requires some skill and experience.

Before you continue, be certain that you have all of the proper safety gear ready and are working in a clean, well ventilated space.

To begin, line the inside of the crucible with boric acid. This is a powder that can be purchased as most hardware stores. This will help to contain the silver and prevent it from picking up anything on the inside the crucible. Put the silver into the crucible, light your torch and get a strong flame. Move the flame around the outside of the silver being careful not to touch it. If the flame hits the silver directly, it will cause it to boil and this may leave air bubbles after it cools. The silver will eventually melt into a liquid.

Make sure that you have followed any instructions that came with your mold. Depending on what type you purchased, it may need to be heated before use. Pour the liquid silver into the mold. This is a very basic method of molding. More complex methods for delicate shapes require special types of machinery such as centrifugal casting machines.

Again, depending on the shape you are casting and the type of mold you have, you may at this point need to plunge your mold into water or allow it to cool for a while outside. Once cooled, you can open your mold and you will have a casting made from your silver coins.

It can not be stressed enough how dangerous of a process this is. You will need to move slowly and be excruciatingly careful. You are working with molten metal which is very dangerous and, once melted, very viscous. Make sure you know exactly what you are doing long before you begin.

Photo Credits: seriykotik1970

Originally posted 2010-08-06 03:50:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The coins produced during the period of time in American history when the Western United States was being settled are some of the most sought after collectors coins for those who are Old West enthusiasts. Below is some information about three of the currently most sought after collectors coins from the Old West era. These coins can be a lot of fun to collect and can also yield a lot of money for those who have and sell the ones which have a high grade on the Sheldon scale.

Old West Carson City Half Eagles

The Half Eagles minted in the Carson City mint were made from gold. These coins were made from gold and came into existence as a direct result of the massive gold rush in the West. The most valuable of these collectors coins are the ones from the originally issue in 1870. Other dates which are sought after are the Carson City 1872, 1873, 1976, and 1878 Half Eagles.

One of the reasons as to why these coins have become so sought after, and valued so highly, is because of how rare they now are. By the best estimates from numismatics, or currency experts, only as little over 1 percent of all of the Carson City Half Eagles are in existence. This means that there are possibly only 9,000 of them available for collection.

Old West Carson City Double Eagle Coins

Carson City Double Eagles are another of the most sought after collectors coins today. The challenge for collectors when it comes to these coins is not finding different dates. Instead the challenge with these coins is finding them in good condition. This has caused for there to be a big push for selling these coins to promote their coins cleanliness and high grading, if they have it.

Another trend which has resulted from these coins becoming increasingly popular to collect is fraud. There are many people who sell these coins online and elsewhere with false grading or ones which are just outright fakes. This is why it is best to only buy these coins and any other coins from trusted coin dealers who are approved by one of the three recognized grading services which are PCGS, IGS, and NGC.

Carson City Morgan Sliver Dollars

The fact that Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars have becomes values collectors coins shows how time can change the opinion of the people. When there coins were first minted in 1870 they were widely unpopular with the public. These coins were thought to be ugly and too bulky to be convenient. Now these coins are some of the most sought after in the collectors market.

Many of these coins were stored in the United State Treasury. These coins had been forgotten about for almost 100 years. They were rediscovered in 1964 during an audit being conducted at the United States Treasury. The coins from the Treasury and others which have been found by collectors are extremely sought after and can have values from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

Photo Credits: vvvracer

Originally posted 2010-08-16 06:41:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Coin collecting is a very popular hobby for many people. This is because there are different things which attract people to it. For many, it is all about the history of the coins which attract them to the hobby. They like being able to talk about the different coins and what place in history they hold. For others, it is all about the way the coins look and what appeal the appearance of the coin has. Others still enjoy buying and selling coin because of the money they can earn by getting involved in the hobby.

For those looking at making money from collecting coins, there are a few different things you will need to know. One of the most important aspects you will need to be educated on is about selling coin. One of the more popular places to sell coins at is at the different coin auctions which are held around the world every year. These auctions are popular because collectors can get a good deal on the coins they buy, sellers get a guaranteed way to sell the coins and buyers will have a guarantee that the coins will be properly inspected and graded.

Good deal for the buyer

The auction is a great place for selling coin because buyers will go to get a great deal. While there are many who will get a great deal on the coins they purchase, it is also possible for the seller to make a better profit than they thought possible. This can happen when two buyers get locked in a battle to buy the coin. This can happen even if the rarity of a coin is not high. It will often happen when the coin is rarely seen at auction.

Guaranteed sale for the seller

Many selling coin want to get a return on their investment. This is why they are selling in the first place. There is nothing worse than trying to sell a coin only to have to sit on it for a while. When a seller brings their coin to auction, they know it will sell there. This way the seller will walk away with money in their pocket whether it was what they were hoping for or not to get out of the sale. At least they will have something to show for selling the coin.

Grading buyers can count on

Often in order to list your coin in an auction you will have to have it graded by one of the well-known third party grading services. Even then, many will inspect the coins to make sure that they are being represented correctly by the grade which is affixed to the slab. If the auction house feels the coin is graded higher than it is, they will not allow the seller to enter the coin in auction. This means those selling coin will have to have confidence in the grading they have paid for.

Photo Credits: starryeyez024

Originally posted 2010-09-28 09:14:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

One of the best things that you can do for your coin collection is to involve others. This does not mean simply showing other the coins that you have purchased – it means actually incorporating your family into the coin collecting process. Coin collecting is simply more fun when others are invested in the collection with you. It creates a common point that can always be a point of interest for your family, something many families lack.

There are a couple of different things that you can do to actively involve your family in coin collecting and create a family coin collection. Playing to the strengths and interests of all in your family will help to make the experience special.

Choosing Coins Together

One way to incorporate your family in coin collecting is to choose the coins that you want to add to the collection together. You can sit together as a family and talk about the different coins that interest you. You can then make a group decision as to the coin that you want to add.

If you are having difficulty choosing a coin as a family, hold a vote. Give family members one or two votes, and do not let them vote for their own coin. The coin (or two coins) with the most votes will be the coin (or coins) that will be added to the collection.

Each Adding to the Collection

If you have more money to use on the collection or want to give everyone the chance to add to the collection as they see fit, create a simple full family collection. Each family member can add whatever coins they would like to add to the collection. This gives each family member immediate ownership of the collection and will make them more emotionally invested in the collection. This is where organization is key; make sure each family member lists the coins they add. Then, make sure each family member checks the list for a duplicate before they add the coin to the collection.

Photography and Displays

If you have family members who are interested in becoming a part of the collection but are not interested in coins, play to their strengths. If you have a family member who likes to build things, have them create the displays for your coins. If you have a family member who likes to take photos, ask them to keep a photography log of all of the coins in your collection. This is a great way to incorporate family members who may otherwise be uninterested in collecting coins.

It is important for you to think about coin collecting as a whole process, as you will be able to find more ways to incorporate your family. By allowing family members to add to the collection, research the collection, or support the collection through photos and displays, the collection becomes more important. Suddenly, the collection is an emotional touch point for your family that offers a positive and fun connection for all.

Photo Credits: Zane Selvans

Originally posted 2011-04-22 03:56:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

There are several rare and collectable coins from all over the world. If you are looking to get into collecting coins and you have a special interest in specifically American coins then there are plenty of options for you to choose from. You can find collectable American coins which range from the affordable and easy to find to those which are very expensive and much harder to find. Below are some examples of these types of coins which are the most popular to collect in a few different price and accessibility categories.

Affordable and Easy to Find Coins

Collecting American coins which are of interest to the collector and may not offer a high rate of return later is just as respected as those collections which have been assembled for the purpose of yielding high financial returns later. The idea is to collect coins which bring you enjoyment. If this is the type of collector you are then you may want to consider collecting American quarters and pennies. Over the year these coins have seen several different transformations and both have had recent makeovers. These coins are affordable and it is easier to find one which has been made over in the past hundred years than it is other coins which are rarer in nature.

Moderate Value Coins

If you are looking for American coins to collect which offer a bit more of a challenge to find yet are still very affordable then you may want taking a look at collecting Buffalo Nickels. These coins which were minted from 1913 to 1938 can be found in a wide variety of conditions these days. The coins feature an American Indian on the obverse and an American bison, or buffalo, on the reverse. There are two versions of this quintessential America coin called Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 has the words “Five Cents” in a mound on the reverse. Type 2 of the Buffalo coin has the world “Five Cents” more recessed on the reverse of the coin.

Expensive and Rare Coins

Some of the most expensive and rare American coins to collect today is the Morgan Silver dollar. These coins were minted from 1978 to 1921. The coins were not well received by the public when they were minted and put into circulation. At the time the coins were considered ugly and too large to be conveniently stored and used. Now these coins which are in excellent condition and minted during key years are worth thousands of dollars. There are several coin dealers which buy and sell these very valuable and much sought after coins. Recently some of these coins have entered the market from what is referred to as the “Rattler Hoard” from a vault in southern Utah. These Morgan dollars are of the highest grade and a very shiny white. In fact, they are almost mirror like appearance. Some of these pristine coins are valued at over $12,000 each.

Photo Credits: LoneGunMan

Originally posted 2010-09-21 03:05:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A coin collection can be an important and educational hobby for a child, as it provides a wide variety of benefits. You simply need to know how to emphasize these benefits. There are certain things that you can do, as a parent or grandparent, to make the collection as fun and educational as possible. There are other things that you may do that are going to cause more harm than good.

These different tips are going to help you to learn how to properly help a child who is working on their coin collection. While you will need to use your own judgment when it comes to the child you are working with, these tips will help to give you a solid path to follow.

Giving Them Seed Money

If you want to help a child in their coin-collecting quest, you need to give them some seed money. Look at the prices of some of the more basic collectable coins and give them enough money for a few of them. Ask them to research the different coins within a price range and have them pick out the coins that they are most interested in.

Have them Save

While you may want to give your kids an allowance for a coin collection, you are going to want them to learn to save money for the things that they want. Have them find a coin that they are interested in and have them set a goal for it.

Help With Research

Research is an important part of coin collecting, even for the most seasoned coin collecting professionals. While you want your child to do research on their own, you are going to need to guide them as they work on that research. Help to guide them through their research and ask them what they have found through their research to make sure that they are finding the right information.

Have Them Negotiate

One of the most important tools that you can teach your child through coin collecting is the art of negotiation. Have them work on negotiating the price down for the coins that they are interested in. Practice with them at home beforehand to help them feel confident as they work the price down with a professional seller. Even if it does not work, they will get in the important experience required to nab good coins for low prices later in life.

You can easily use a coin collection to educate your child in multiple arenas. You can work to teach them about the value of money while practicing simple math skills. You can teach them how to save and teach them about history, all through the pursuit of one single coin. If you are trying to help a child with their coin collection follow these various tips. Consider how to best help your child with their collection and give them some freedom. They will learn to think about decisions and learn to research, skills that will become useful to them later in life.

Photo Credits: jfin.ch

Originally posted 2011-03-30 04:15:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Selling off coins is never easy to do. This is especially true when you are attached to the coins. It is significantly easier for those who are in the business of making a profit. Even then, there are certain coins which people simply get hung up on. They want to make sure that they are able to get a good return on their investment if they are going to part with the coin. If you have gotten to the point where you are ready to start selling old coins, there are a few steps you will need to follow. These steps are necessary no matter how you got to this point.

Following these three easy steps will allow you to get the most out of the sale of your coins. After all, no matter why you are selling old coins, it only makes sense that you will be able to get the most for the value of the coin. First, you will need to find out how rare the coin is. You will then need to find out what the grade is and have it put in a slab. You will then need to set a price based on the current market rate.

Determining Rarity

The rarity of the coin is signified by how many of the coins are available for other people to purchase. The fewer of the coins which are available, the more valuable the coin is. This is usually determined by the kind of coin it is, the year it was minted and the Mint it was made in. These factors will all help you when selling old coins because they will play a large role in the price that you set for the coin. You are better off if you can rate the coin on either the Sheldon Rarity Scale or the Universal Rarity Scale.

Determining Grade

The grade of the coin is another huge factor in how much the coin will be worth. The grade of the coin is determined by the condition that it is in. This includes such things as the luster of the coin, the amount of wear it has and the amount of scratches it has. Following some of the prescribed guides from the ANA will help you to grade it. You are better off to simply have the coin graded and put into a slab by one of the respected third party grading services.

Determining Value

Once you know the rarity of the coin and you know the grade of the coin you will be able to look at numismatic market trends. These will help to tell you what the coin has been selling at recently and in the near recent past. Looking deeper than just the current market value will help you to determine whether the price should remain at the market value or you should charge more because it is on an upward trend. There is no guarantee you will get the price you want when selling old coins, but the price you never ask for is the price you will never get.

Photo Credits: Loren Javier

Originally posted 2010-09-04 03:03:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collecting or investing in rare or old coins, called “numismatic” coins, can be a delightful hobby or investment, if you know how to buy and how to certify, or grade, coins. Research and studying coins is the only way to learn how to grade and certify them. Unless you have considerable time and resources to learn certifying, you will need to find a coin expert you can trust, to help you with this process. In the past, coins were simply classified as circulated or uncirculated. As time went on, distinctions began to be made in the amount of wear or circulation in various coins, until now there is an entire scale used in certifying coins.

The best way to have your coins certified is to find a reputable grading or certification service that is independent of dealers. That is, the grading service should not also sell the coins to you. Check out the grading or certification service’s industry reputation. Because grading standards is not an exact science but rather represents the opinion of the certifier, you may need to use more than one service, and get second opinions. Many periodicals are on the market and list coin prices by several different services.

Learning Coin Certifying

Every serious collector, however, should know something about grading or certifying coins, so that he or she will know if a dealer is stating the condition of coins accurately. Obtain a copy of the Sheldon Scale, which is the industry standard scale to determine the range of wear and detail of coins, or at least the scale most often used by professionals. The scale range runs from P-1, Poor, to MS-70, Mint State Perfect, and it can be found online, in a library, or from a reputable coin dealer. You will need a strong light and a magnifying glass. Check the condition of your coin with the scale to see where it falls in the range given. The higher the number, the more the coin should be worth. If you’re a beginner, you will probably have circulated coins, and these are the easiest to grade, so start with them.

The object of coin certifying or grading is to determine its market value. Many collectors, however, do not wish to sell their coins and just want to know the approximate grade of a coin. In grading, look for the quality of the characteristics, striking and coin die. Check the type and amount of wear. For example, does the coin have dents, scrapes, is it bent, or otherwise damaged, and how much detail is still visible.

There is also a grading system called net grading, for giving coins that are out of the normal range or scale. If the coin has a problem that is not allowed for on the regular scale, it is graded as it would have been without the particular damage or problem. Along with the grade, however, is an explanation, such as VG-8 – Bent, meaning the coin would be graded VG-8 on the Sheldon Scale, but has been bent. Learning coin certifying is not hard, and with a little practice, a collector can become quite good at recognizing the various grades of new and old coins. When in doubt, of course, or before making a large purchase, check with a professional certifier, preferably one who is a member of the PNG, or Professional Numismatists Guild.

Photo Credits:  s58y

Originally posted 2010-08-08 03:40:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

If you are an avid coin collector, you want to keep these coins in mint condition. One of the best ways to do this is to know how to clean old coins in the proper way.

Collecting old coins has been a favorite hobby for many people for a very long time. Keeping these coins safely stored in a display case or book will keep them looking perfect for many years. They can last a lifetime. There is a certain joy to pull out the collection and gaze at the coins that are rare, and so old that no one sees them anymore. They may also be very valuable. This is why it’s very important to know the right way to clean the old coins, and to not clean them the wrong way.

Many collectors believe that the coins shouldn’t be cleaned at all. However, there are still steps that should be taken to do it properly. A child who is starting a coin collection by just using coins he has found on the street will need to clean them. They are dirty and carry germs and should be sanitized before storing them.

The first thing to do is to wash your hands thoroughly. If preferred, it is also a good idea to wear a pair of latex gloves while cleaning. A towel or soft cloth that is folded over should be placed on the working surface. This would be a place for the coins to dry. Using warm, not hot, tap water, fill a small plastic container. Do not use a hard container because these can scratch the coins. A very tiny amount of mild dishwashing liquid should be mixed with the water.

Another plastic container should be filled with distilled or hot running tap water. This is the water that will rinse them after washing them. Wash one coin at a time. Rub both sides of the coin with the soapy water with a very gentle motion. If there is any kind of dirt lodged in the coin, rub it towards the outer part, not towards the middle. Never wash all of the coins at once. Doing it one at a time will surely remove any dirt and germs that are on each one.

If you are using both hot tap and distilled water, first rinse the coin under the hot tap water. Then do another rinse in the distilled water to remove any residue that may be found in the tap water. When this is finished, only handle the coin on the edges. It is now ready to dry. Pat it dry with a soft cloth or towel. Then place it on the towel to let it air dry. They are only ready to store when they are completely dry. This is very important. If they are even damp, they will become damaged over a period of time.

To keep the coins more valuable, never use harsh chemicals, or do any dipping or polishing on the old coins. This will lower their value. The oxidation on the coins is called toning and they are worth much more money with the oxidation still intact.

It is a good idea for a collector to consult a professional if he really wants to know how to care for the coins in the safest and most proper way.

Photo Credits: chrstphre

Originally posted 2010-08-06 09:15:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collecting money is something which has been enjoyed by many different kinds of people all throughout history. Some might have collected because they liked the designs of currencies. Others might collect because of an interest in history or because they are looking to make a profit. Of the many ways that you can collect currency, collecting coins is still the most popular. This is because of the many various designs and changes which they have undergone throughout the years. This is why anyone entering the coins world needs to be able to know what they are getting themselves into.

There are many different parts which you can get involved in whenever you decide to enter the coins world. Among the different ways that you can get involved is that you can collect the modern coins which have been developed solely as collector’s items. You can also choose to collect those coins which have become rare as a result of changes in the country that they were produced in. No matter what you choose, it is important to protect your collection in the right ways. This will help you to get even more out of your collection.

Collecting Modern Coins

Among the different ways that you will be able to collect coins, the majority of people will start by collecting the coins which have just been released by the mint. This is because they will be sold already in protective cases. Many of these will also be included in special packaging which will help to increase the value of the collection later on. While these represent the lowest dollar value of the coins world, it is still a great place to start and you never know when something will happen which will cause the coins to increase in value.

Collecting Rare Coins

There are also many in the coins world which decide to collect rare coins. These could be those which are from your country or from countries around the world. These different kinds of coins can represent changes in the government for the country or simply a change in the currency which was being used. No matter how these coins became rare, the important thing is that they are rare now and that will help you to be able to get the most out of the collection that you have because it will be worth even more money.

Protecting Your Coins

Once you have the coins you are looking to collect, it is very important that you are getting everything that you need to protect them. This means that you will make sure that they never get touched by human hands to protect against oils staining the coins. It also means making sure that you are putting the coins in a protective case. This will help you to be able to get everything that you need so that in the coins world, you will be able to buy and sell coins in a manner which makes sense.

Photo Credits: rageforst

Originally posted 2011-09-28 10:08:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter